Valentine's Day Special

It’s Valentine’s Day - time for love and lining the pockets of Hallmark stores and chocolate makers around the world.

It’s also a day men demonstrate the power to read between the lines. With a little practice, we’ve learned that “You don’t have to get me anything” really means “If you don’t get me something, you don’t get anything for a week!” See, we’re not so dumb.

Jules at Trying to Get Over the Rainbow created a special button for us to share with one another and I decided to save it for today. You are all awesome people and I appreciate each one of you who visits my site.

I’d like to say a special thanks to Jeffrey Beesler. Last week, after reading a really crappy review of my book, he offered some encouraging words. Thanks Dude, I needed that, and I don’t intend to give up.

The Words Crafter at The Rainy Day Wanderer gave me the Write Hard Award. Thanks, Words Crafter!


I’m passing it on to:
Clarissa Draper at Listen to the Voices
Rayna at Coffee Rings Everywhere.


And wanted to let you know about another cool blogfest coming up soon! DiscConnected is hosting the Super 8 Debut Albums blogfest:

SUPER 8 DEBUT ALBUMS BLOG HOP

Remember that first helping of Meat Loaf?
How about when you "Got the Knack?"
On February 28, we're listing our all time eight favorite debut albums from artists where they hit paydirt the first time!
Visit his SITE to sign up!

And to all you ladies who said you loved the Resident Evil series - that's just too damn cool!

Now, where were all of you when I was a teenager, and the girls thought that stuff was gross and weird?

Blogfests and Awards!

If you’re looking for my Significant Other blogfest entry, it’s HERE

Don’t forget the Top Ten Countdown Music Blogfest THIS Monday! Ten songs. You can do it! Join us – I’d like to see 100 bloggers participate.


Here’s another cool blogfest coming soon:

Top Ten Horror/Science Fiction Movie Quotes Blog-fest. On the 6th February count down your top ten most memorable lines from your favorite horror and science fiction movies. Hosted by iZombie and Ellie Garratt Come on – join the fun!

And I received the Happy Award from Jules Thanks so much!

Sorry, I don’t remember the rules. Listing what makes us happy perhaps? My wife, my writing, my guitar, my iPad, and seeing 100 sign up for the Top Ten Countdown Music Blogfest!

Passing the happiness on to:

Amity at Dreams Are My Reality

Her comment the other day just made me happy!

See everyone on Monday for the Blogfest!

Starting the New Year off with a Smile!

Happy New Year! Today, it’s all about the smiles…

Today is the Eye Candy Blogfest, hosted by Vicki at Rambles and Randomness “Post a favorite picture - something that makes you smile every time you see it.” Be sure to check out the others entries as well! I thought long and hard (and almost hurt myself) over which picture to select. Yes, my first thought was Kate Beckinsale. I won’t deny it. But ultimately, I selected an image that holds a special meaning for me. This is Frank Frazetta’s “Battlestar Galactica,” created for the original TV show:  Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars were big influences on my original idea for CassaStar. This painting sparked my imagination more than any other medium. I could see the Cassans and their ships, and the adventures of Byron and Bassa came to life. The desolate, rocky planet in the painting even became a scene in my story, and the only one to survive the rewrite. (I’m sure those who’ve read the book know the scene, as it was also the most difficult to write.) So when I look at this picture, I smile – the raw beginnings of CassaStar!

I also received the Making Smiles on Faces Award from L’Aussie. Thanks so much! Most of my blogging friends are good at making me smile! (Which made narrowing it down REALLY tough.) But I couldn’t list everyone, so I just selected a few special charmers: Abby at Above Water Yvonne at Welcome to my World of Poetry Old Kitty at Ten Lives and Second Chances Jules at Trying to Get Over the Rainbow Thanks to everyone who voted for my trailer at Parajunkee. She’ll announce the winners soon! Meanwhile, the book trailer contest voting at Spunk On A Stick’s Tips starts today! Mine’s one of almost twenty trailers. If you think it’s the best, hop on over and vote! And a special thanks to Edi’s Book Lighthouse - he just posted the best books of 2010 and CassaStar was in the top three from small publishers. Thanks, Edi – that definitely makes me smile!

Blogging Idiosyncrasies III and Final Awards

Final round with the blogging junk, I promise! Comments from the first two posts spurred new ideas though.

Blog-whoring
Dezz at HOLLYWOOD SPY coined this term. It refers to those who leave quick, short, meaningless comments just to get you to comment on their blog. It also puts me in mind of those who follow you, and you to follow back. but then no matter how many times you comment on that person’s blog, he or she never comments back. I have several of those right now. Now I admit, I’m not overly interesting and not every post appeals to every person, but did you follow just to get me to follow you? Do you have followers like that? Or ones who leave short or odd comments?

Mechanics of comment box
Judging from last week’s comments, this is a sore spot for many. Is the comment box embedded or separate? There appears to be numerous ways to set up one’s comment box – separate small box (like mine), entirely new page, or the main page reloads. Sometimes the latter occurs, only you don’t realize it also has word verification – and when it refreshes the page, it returns to the top of the page. I wonder how many comments never go through because the commenter doesn’t realize he needs to do the word verification? What are your thoughts on the placement of the comment box?

Okay, I’m officially done with that mess!

On to the awards! Of which there are many…

Yvonne at Welcome to my World of Poetry gave me the Creative Writing Award! Yvonne, I am truly honored. I shall pass this on to just one person:

Ted Cross - don’t you dare give up on The Shard, dude!



Powdered Toast Man at Just the Cheese gave me the Super Commenter Award! I pass this on to:

Rayna at Coffee Rings Everywhere





iZombie gave me the Zombie Rabbit Award! Okay, I have to pass this on to someone who will appreciate it…

Rogue at The Roads of Autumn Dusk

Jules at Trying to Get Over the Rainbow gave me the Circle of Friends Award. Thanks, Jules! And Kate at The Scribbling Sea Serpent gave me the One Lovely Blog Award. Thanks, Kate! I’ve received both of these before, so won’t pass them on again.